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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: mouse · rash · stick · drill · season · current · field · arm

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. drill — army training
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. current — happening now
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. field — a subject
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. rash — hasty
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. season — in sport
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — of water
  14. field — for sport
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. rash — a series
  18. field — farmland
  19. season — of the year
  20. current — electric
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. drill — the tool
  24. stick — a piece of wood

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com